Improvement in systems foftlibraries



UNTTnn STATES `AT13NT Tir-ren.

iMPnovswiEN-rm svsrsivis Foe Liennuiss.

Spccilication forming part ot Letters-Patent No. hf, dated January2,'1866.

x and. State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Systemfor Managing Sunday-School Libraries 5 and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact descrip'- tion thereof, reference beinghad to the accomv panying drawings and illustrations, with the lettersof reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 is the face, with its revolving disk, of thelibrary-index; Fig. 2, the back of the same covered 'with aslate-surface; Fig. 3, the index-box, and Fig. 4 the lid or register;Fig. 5, the index-catalogue; Fig. 6, a continuation of the same forlilling in new books; Fig. 7, the inside of the cataloguecover. partlycovered with a vslate-surface, for, the purpose shown. Fig.8 illustratesone 'of the index library-tags. 1 f

v Thebject of my invention is .,tofacilitate and systematize thedistribution of librarybooks among the respective classes of Suiv'day-schools in such manner as tol entirely avoid the confusion anddelay incident to other plans; to secure a simple, correct, and'reliable record' of thepweekly condition of the library, therebyinsuring a large Savin g of books usually lost through accounts; and togreatly simplify the duties and economizey the time of librarian anteachers. n :f s 'Ihe nature of my improvement consists, tiret. in thearrangement of the library into equal divisions, corresponding with themaximum number of classes 1n the school second, l

in the construction and use. of the library-index, index-catalogue,index-box andregister, and the index library-tags.

To enable librarians and others to use my invention, Iv describe thesame in detail and operating in combination as a system -as follows:

I. The library/. -The maximum number of the classes in the school havingbeen ascertained, the books in the library are arranged in equaldivisions corresponding in number with the classes, and each division oralcove numerically designated from l upward. ln schools which areilot,graded, or where thc number of ,classesd'oes not exceed twenty-six,

imperfect and disputedV y from three d tion of the face, Fig. 1,inclosed by the outer ferent classes.

"flongingto a particular class yshown Glass A or at mostthirty-two,.each division is so arranged as to be a complete library initself,

being thereby adapted to meet the wants ot' and capacity in the pupilsof various ages same class, books of the first grade being uniformlyapportioned to the several divisions, and so with the second, and asmany more grades as the classification of the books will allow. All`serial works are placed in consecutive order in the divisions, so thatthe scholar who reads the first volume one week will have an opportunityof selecting the secondv the week following, and so on. In largerschools,

where -the classes are graded,fthe-iinportance 1 of which I urge uponall who adopt this system, the school is worked in two or more sectionsof twenty,twentysix, or thirty-:two classes nach. inwlch case ranged incorresponding sections or grand-divisions to suit the different grades,each being worked by its own librarian and with a separate outt;corresponding. substantially wit-h that described in these specications.l A

Il. The Zibrary-t'ndcm.-This device-tire .prominent feature of thesystem-is so` called because it indicates or points out a systematicdistribution of the books. It is manufactured of a superior article ofdouble-rolled card-y board or metal, or any other suitable material maybe used. The index, in its outer form, is to four inches square. rlhatporpink and colored yellow is a revolving disk,

which is pivoted to the back at the center c,

and is moved by a tape loop placed at b. i The' letters oi' the alphabeton-the margin of this disk are the names or designations of the difsixt-he additional classes are designated as vsecond A, (A2,) second B,(B2) and so on. The

iigures on the ixed margin outside the disk correspond'with thedivisions of the library, already described, and also with the folios ofthe catalogue. The back of the index, Fig. 2, which is glued orotherwisesecured tothe fixed margin, is covered .with Ieirces patentslatesurface,which, from itslightness, elas-v ticity,l and'durability,vis found to be an admirable composition forthe purpose. Each index isalso designated on thevback, Fig. 2, as be- (inthe sample is designated)by being 1athe library is further kar- Where these exceed twenty# 'bythis new system.

bers and titles from l to 30, inclusive.

beled respectively A, B, (l, D,&c. The outer edges are covered-with acoating of paraiiinevarnish, which corresponds in color with theslating'suriace and acts as a'preservative of the cardboards where theyare joined together. Thus constructed theseindexes are cheap anddurable, as with ordinary care they will last a life-time.

, III. The ndew-catalogua+Essential as catalogues are to the completeworkin g of a library, i

they have been objectionable under the old plans on account of theexpense of keeping them up-any material changes made in the libraryinvolving the expense of new catalogues. To avoid this serious objectionis the Object of my improved catalogues, as a single set will last foryears, and admit of any desired additionsto the library withoutimpairing the uniform system of numbering secured This result isattained by so arranging the pages (Fig. 5, page 20) in uniformdivisions that, while the numbers of the books are always consecutiva.blanks are left on each leaf or alternate page for the titles andnumbers of new books, (Fig. 6, page 20,) each page being always a record'of the booksin the corresponding division of the library. Thus in alibrary containing seven hundred and eightyvolumes arranged intwenty-six divisions, each division containing thirty, the rst page ofthe catalogue embraces the num- The second begins with 5l, and containsthe inter- Vening numbers to 80, the third from V101 to 130, the fourthfrom 151 to 180, &c. This leaves twenty blanks for inserting new titlesas books are added from time to time to the corresponding divisions ofthe library. The additions can be either written on the blank lines,Fig. 6, arranged forthat purpose, (the catalogues being printed on agood quality of writing-paper,) or they may be printed on slips, thencut into twenty-six parts and one part pastedon the blank ot' each pageIn addition to the 'numbers of the books placed4 before the title, I addina column on the right the number of pages in each volume, which aidsthe teacher in selecting books adapted to the age and capacity of thepupil. 'And to make the index-catalogue available as a class-book theinside of each lid is partially covered with a slated surface, withblank lines for the names of the scholars, in which the teacher can keepa record of their attendance, charge their books, or such othermemorandaa's may bedesired, (Fig.7 illustrates the c'over,) thus savingthe expense and avoiding the inconvenience of carrying more thanonebook. v y

For the accommodation of such schools as may not feel able to incur theexpense ot'printed catalogues I have modified my improvement in suchmanner that thelibrary can be worked under the index system with asingle copy of a written catalogue arranged as follows: `The titles ofthe books, with theirl numerical designations and number of pages, arewritten on fot the library sheetsof paper equal to and numbered tocorrespond with the divisions of the library.

For greater convenience and durability these sheets may be pasted oncard-board or its equivalent. WVhen the librarian distributes theindexes he sends withthe one belonging to each 'class the page or sheetcorresponding with the index ligure opposite the'lettcr of that class,changing the'order of distribution each Sunday, as indicated by themovement of the disk. The result is practically the same as if eachclass had a full catalogue.

lV. The index-boaf-Tofacilitate the working of this system, the indexesare putnpin boxes, Fig. 3, and numbered in sets according to the sizeofthe school. No. 2, which is rep- `resented by the drawings reduced tohalf-size, (shown 'in perspective by Fig. 3,) being designed for aschool of twenty-six classes, contains twenty-seven indexes, one foreach class and one for the special use of the librarian. The box isconstructed with compartments, each having an alphabeticaldesignation toshow where each index belongs.. The inside of the sliding` lid (shown inperspective over the box by Fig. 4) is covered with Peirces patentslate-` surface, and contains the designations of the classes'downtheleft margin and a blank line opposite each one. There is alsola-dividing-line shown down the middle. This is used as a register ofunreturned books, the index-box thus containing wit-hin itself all theappliances for'workin g a library and keep- `ing a full, correct,andalways reliable record of its condition, entirely dispensing with thecomplex, laborious, and imperfect plans of rec, ord hitherto in use.

V.-Theginde.v lbrary-tags.-As a part of this system, and included ineach outfit, is one or more sets of library-tags, (Fig. S illustratesone of them,) being neatly-prin ted labels, showing, inaddition to theusual numerical designation of each volume, the particular division towhich such book belongs'. which greatly facilitates thepperations of thelibrarian in taking outand returning books. These are furnished insheets arranged in divisions, each division containing fifty tags. Thesetags are made adhesive by iirst saturating the paper on which they areprinted with a solution of tannic aci'd, andthen coatingl the sheet witha preparation of.' isinglass or its equivalent. The adhesion to the bookis rendered perfect bywettin g the binding with said acid beforeattaching the tag. The isinglass (ichthyocolla) having a strong affinityfor tannin,the tag adheres as rrnly as if it were a part of the book.

Operation'of the system: The operation of the index system, of which theforegoing-described appliances each constitute a part, lmy

be briefly vsett'orth as follows: The library having been properlyarranged, the classes named in` alphabetical order around the room', and`each furnished with a catalogue, the librarian sets the rotating disksofthe indexes unienses 3 formly, the first class, A, pointing to thefigure l; the second, B, to the figure 2, etc. rlhe indexes are thendistributed to the classes in order, who select the books they may wantfrom the page of the catalogue corresponding with the figure oppositethe letter of the class and write the numbers of' the books thus chosenon the back of the index. rlhe indexes are then returned to thelibrarian, who will find the books selected by class A in the firstdivision and by class B in the second division, and so on, and hedistributes them accordingly. The indexes are then placed in theirrespective compartments in the index-box, the'numbers written thereon bythe teachers being the only record or charge necessary to make againstthe respective classes for the books taken ont. 0n the following Sunday,if' all the books are returneda rule which is enjoined as absolute bythis system-the librarian erases these num.- bers, which squares theaccount between him v and the classes for the previous Sunday. Thereturned books having been replaced, thelibrarian moves the disk of eachindex one point to the right, which throws every class into a newdivision of the library, when the selections and distribution are madeas before,the operation being substantially the same on each successiveSunday.

The advantages of' such-a system are obvious, as it places all theclasses on an equal footing, prevents the confusion of' two or moreclasses selecting the same books on the saine day, and thedisappointment necessarily aris-4v ing therefrom establishes a system ofrecording about which there can be no disputes, saving both librarian and teach ers much vexa-tion and loss of' time, while it also preventsparticular. classes from vmonopoliz'ing the use of favorite books to theprejudice of others with equal claims, at the same time giving everyclass an opportunity to select, in their turn, any book in the library;all these advantages bein g t secured at a cost not exceeding the rateof fifty cents per class.

Register oi' unreturned books: ln case any books are not returned theSunday after they are taken out, as required by the rule, the scholarsSelecting from the division to which such books belong would be liableto choose books not in the library, and thus loss of' time in making anew selection, as well as a defect in the librarians accounts, wouldresult. To meet this difficulty the register of unreturned :books isprovided as follows: Suppose class B does not return Nos. 51 and 8,0belonging to the second division, the librarian will charge them on theregister on the box-lid opposite B, Fig. 4, and mark them on the nextpreceding index (which is A) thus, out, 5l, 80, Fig. 2. Class A, seeingthat these books are out of their divisions for the day, will of coursenot select them. The same course is pursued with all other classes notreturning books, the simple rule being to enter their numbers on thenext preceding index and charge them of' the library contrary lo rule.

on thc register opposite the letter of the class which kept them out.And in case any books are kept out over the second Sunday they must beagain entered as out on the index of the class thro-wn into the divisionto which such bookbclongs, which can be ascertained by a glance at theregister after the collection of' books is completed for the day, theregister then being a complete record ofl all books ont To facilitatethis thel numbers of all books kept out over one week should be kept onthe left of' the line running-down the middle of the register, and thoseunreturned on that day placed on the right of the same.

The index marked librarian is used by him in case he may have occasionto consult its indications when the other indexes are in the hands of'`the teachers, and also for the purpose of charging any books which hemay loan to persons not 'connected with any particular class.

This system may also be worked with asingle index in the hands of thelibrarian, in connection with the catalogue sheets or cards previouslydescribed, which may be backed with slate-surface to enable the teachersto write thereon the number of the books selected, or separate slates orcards-may be used for that ur ose the librarian chan infrthecataloeue- 7g e e sheets each Sunday from class to class, as indicated bythe indexAbut while this plan costs but a trifle less than the other it is not socomplete, and consequently less 'satisfactor t.

As printed instructions for working the. index system, covering theminutest details of' the practical operation in the school-room, arefurnished with each outfit, the foregoing explanations are deemed amplysufficient for the purpose of' these specifications. I

I am aware that revolying disks made of metal orcard-board have beenemployed. for various purposes. I therefore do not simply lclaim arevolving disk, nor, in fact, any ofthe devices employed, independentlyconsidered,

apart from its appropriate place appertainin g to my system forregulating Sunday-school libraries. Believing, however, that lhaveinventednovel and useful modes (in the respective 'departmentsconstituting my entire system) both in the device employed and mannerot' application, constituting separate claims, What I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy 1. Thearrangementof' Sunday-school libraries into uniform divisions, numericallycorresponding with the classes of the schools, in combinat'ion with theligures on the fixed margin of' the index and the folios of thecatalogue,

substantially in the manner and for the pur-` pose specified. I

2. The employment of the index, with its revolving disk, for thedesignation of classes and divisions, substantially as shown, for thepurpose specified.

3. The arrangement of the catalogue into' uniform divisions (withuniforin intervening blanks consecutively numbered) corresponding withthe divisions of the library and the classes in the scliooi, also theapplication of the catalogue as a t'eachers class-book, sul)- stantillyin the manner specified.

4. The construction and use ol' the indexbox and its sliding` lid withits slate-surface,

or equivalent, and designations of classes as.

a register, substantially as shown, and for the purposespecied.

5.. Thepeculiar method of securing librarytags by the use of isinglassand tannic acid independently applied, in the manner and for the purposespecified.

6. The combination and use vofthe vindex, index-box, and register,catalogue, and tags asa system, arranged and operating snbstantially asand for the purpose fully set forth and `shown in the foregoingspecification.

. JVM. W. GEIST. Witnesses:

WM. B. WILEY,

J Aeon STAUFFER.

